Rhododendron dichroanthum 'BÖHMEN' rhododendron
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,8-1,3m
usual width
1,5-1,8m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May
location
full sun to shade
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Rhododendrons are reliable, beautifully flowering, evergreen shrubs of variable origin: S.W. China, Himalayas, Northern America, and even Europe. The original species were hybridized several times for better performance so in the 1950´s there were more than 10,000 cultivars registered, and the number keeps increasing.
Description of the plant:
Böhmen means Bohemia (Czech Republic) and it is a bicoloured rhododendron which was found as an unnamed seedling in Průhonice Arboretum in the Czech Republic, by German horticulturist W.Wüstemeyer in 1974. He liked it so much he made a new variety of it that was introduced to trade in 1985 under a name that honours its origin. Thank you. The flowers of Böhmen are campanulate, golden orange with salmon pink margins, and open from early May for 2-3 weeks. R.dichroanthum is a variable species and even though the plants are propagated vegetatively there might be slight nuances to the original. Evergreen leaves are elegant, leathery, slightly convex, oval to broadly elliptic, dark green, and medium glossy. The plant forms a prostrate shrub with upright branches. 10-year-old plant can be 80-90 cm tall and a little over one meter wide.
For a better looking shrub dead-head where possible. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil has to be acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), rich in humus, cool and always moist. Ideal soil mixture is peat with lime-free, light garden soil topped with leave-mould. Very hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).
Last update 05-12-2018
